The BBC has announced today that it is putting its current headquarters in Cardiff up for sale this autumn as part of plans to relocate BBC Wales to a new purpose-built broadcast headquarters elsewhere in the capital by 2018.

The relocation plans have been developed in response to the growing technology difficulties facing programme-makers at the Llandaff headquarters.

The BBC will consider a number of potential sites for the new development and is working closely with the Welsh Government and a number of other partners in order to maximise the economic and creative benefits of the move.

The final plan – and the value for money it offers – will be subject to approval by the BBC Executive and Trust next spring once the project team has selected a preferred site and developer.

Anne Bulford, managing director of BBC Operations and Finance said: “We believe these exciting proposals could significantly strengthen BBC Wales’ role as the national broadcaster for Wales whilst also opening up new and exciting opportunities for the wider creative and media sector in Wales.

“The ageing infrastructure at Llandaff is clearly reaching the end of the road – and it is time to look to the future.

“We have asked the BBC Wales team to now progress detailed plans that yield the best possible return on investment from a creative and an economic perspective. These are challenging financial times and it is vital that the final plans are robust and affordable.

The director of BBC Wales, Rhodri Talfan Davies, said: “This is excellent news and provides the opportunity to develop a new broadcast centre that can act as a real catalyst for the whole creative sector in Wales.

“We will now work with our property team and strategic partners to identify our preferred site and to prepare a detailed business plan that provides the best possible value-for-money for BBC licence fee payers.

“We are also continuing detailed discussions with S4C to see whether it is feasible to collaborate at the new centre, and we are grateful to the Welsh Government for theiron-going support in this major strategic venture.

“The BBC’s experience in Salford clearly shows that we can play a leading role in helping to develop the wider creative economy. The new centre in northern England has brought together broadcasters, universities and other digital production companies. It’s an exciting environment that encourages collaboration – and it’s a model we are keen to realise here in Wales.”

The BBC has been looking at its detailed property requirements in Cardiff since an initial feasibility study was approved in November 2011.

In an internal note sent out to all BBC Wales staff which Wales Online has obtained, Rhodri Talfan Davies said: “For BBC Wales, this exciting news presents a number of opportunities. First and foremost, there is the opportunity to introduce technology and tools that are agile and reliable in a modern working environment that encourages and fosters creativity.

“But there is another, arguably bigger, opportunity if we are up for it. And that is the chance to transform the way we all work together - the chance to unlock our full potential as a national broadcaster by rethinking the way that we work alongside each other, and alongside other partners in the creative industries.”

Welcoming the plans, Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “Our creative industries sector is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic areas of the Welsh economy. The BBC’s plan to move its Welsh headquarters to a new purpose-built broadcast centre in Cardiff would be a major multi-million pound reinvestment in the Welsh economy that shows the BBc’s long-term commitment to Wales and continued confidence in the creative and technical skills on offer here.

“We look forward to continuing our close working partnership with BBC Wales in order that we can all maximise the wider economic opportunities and creative benefits that this relocation would offer to Cardiff, and to the rest of Wales.”

Garffild Lloyd Lewis, S4C’s director of communications, marketing and partnerships, said: “Currently S4C is carrying out a feasibility study into the possibility of moving some elements of our work to other parts of Wales. Our discussions with BBC Wales form part of the same considerations, and we look forward to continuing to discuss this issue in detail with them.”

Huw Eurig Davies, chief executive of Cardiff-based Boom Pictures, one of the largest independent TV production companies in Wales said: “This is welcome news for the creative industries in Wales. The move towards a state of the art broadcast centre in the capital, served by the very latest technology, will undoubtedly raise further the profile of the Welsh media sector across the UK.

“We hope this also brings related benefit to the independent production and media companies. There is a significant opportunity here for closer co-operation and partnerships with the BBC and others.”